Category Archives: Holiness & sanctification

The sanctifying work of the Spirit

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John Stott suggests a ‘5-D’ summary of the steps in the sanctifying activity of the Holy Spirit:-

1.  The Holy Spirit operates first in our mind, enabling us to discern the will of God;

2.  Then in our conscience, enablish us to distinguish between right and wrong;

3.  Next in our heart, enablish us to desire God’s way ardently;

4.  Then in our will, enablish us to determine resolutely to follow God’s will;

5.  Only then can we do his will.…

What separation does not mean

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  1. That we should give up our jobs, 2 Thess 3:10 1 Tim 5:8.
  2. That we should avoid contact with the unconverted, 1 Cor 10:27.
  3. That we should take no interest in anything except Christianity.
  4. That we should be peculiar in dress, manners, voice, etc, Mt 23:5.
  5. That we should become recluses, Jn 17:15.
  6. That we should withdraw from imperfect churches, Mt 13:30.

(Source unknown)

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Mortification

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Paul writes in Romans 8:13, ‘if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.’

This introduces the important but neglected subject of ‘mortification’.

’Mortification,’ says J.I Packer in God’s Words, ‘is war.’ Four steps are involved in this warfare:-

1. We must know our enemy

We fight, not just sins, but the sinful nature which lies behind all instances of sinful actions. The unbeliever is a slave to sin, Rom 6:16-23.…

“Put Off – Put On”

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Matthew Henry, the famous Bible commentator, once preached a series of sermons on sanctification.  In each sermon he would deal with a sin to be ‘mortified’, and then the corresponding grace to be cultivated.…